Half way Through and beyond!

 

 

Our rather last minute attempts to remember the fun of Chinese New Year in Penang...

we hosted a games night and had some CNY snacks, though mom couldn't find quite the same things we'd enjoyed in Penang. 

Mom thrifted us all red shirts and insisted we do photos, which was made both hilarious and frustrating trying to get Freda to not be looking at Jasmin, but we won - with a strategically placed kibble :)

Aiden got quite sick last week - enough that we actually chatted with a virtual care doctor - with high fevers and nasty headaches. But we never had to carry out the doctor's suggestions because after prayer he slept all night and woke up just with head cold symptoms.

We got Grace's diploma in the mail - proof of all that hard work on paper!

And, we've been having a snowful winter this year. We were hoping to get to skate on the lake again, but there's been so much snow! Instead we take Freda there for a romp and revel in the breathtaking winter beauty.

And then stop on the way home to appreciate the haunting beauty of the amazing place God has allowed us to live in!

February News so far...

 ...is pretty dull, like the many gray days we've been having.

As in, not much to report when looking from one direction. 

But in another...

Mom and Dad successfully embarked on maintenance adventures:

First the washer quit draining. And with patience, persistence, and youTube we managed to get it working again. Grace, whose bedsheets and blankets were sopping wet from the failed wash load was super glad.

A few days later the dishwasher quit working. And, the day we chose to fix the dishwasher, Jasmin discovered another flat tire (one for one, month to month in 2026 so far!)

So, Mom and Dad ventured to change the tire, find out who best to take it to for diagnosis and replacement/fixing, and get it all done. In the end a pretty smooth process that did not require a ton of money for tire replacement, only a plug fix. Success!

But, the dishwasher still isn't fixed so the kids are having to handwash the dishes. An easy fix 😉But it does mean that we're not treating the machine fix quite so urgent a task.

And in between, alongside, and round about, Aiden wrestles with AP Calculus and Physics, Jasmin teaches dog training via Zoom 6 times a week for her course, Grace starts a course in NT Greek, Mom keeps abrest of her SAFE work, and Dad works to clear his plate to start his PhD studies in earnest.

So, maybe not all that normal of a February starting week. Hopefully next week can have "business as usual" as the main event rather than hopping from fix project to fix project.